MIDDLETON — OK, one more time. Apologies to those who have kept up with the school issues, but at the last meeting I attended, it seemed apparent that some residents may not know this information. A petition warrant to withdraw from Farmington Schools was defeated last March. However, Farmington’s warrant article to undertake a study of the AREA plan’s feasibility and sustainability passed. Subsequently, Farmington’s and Middleton’s school boards have been meeting to study the AREA Agreement. Note that this Agreement was signed in Nov. 1972, 40 years ago. Considering it due diligence, the Middleton School Board felt it necessary to investigate all available options for educating our children. Whatever the outcome of the AREA Agreement meetings, the School Board cannot decide how to educate students for Middleton — you, the voters do that. The board will report their findings, present the options, and make recommendations, but ultimately it is decided at the ballot box. And it still has to be approved by the State Board of Education, with the entire process from study to vote through State approval taking perhaps two years or even longer.

You can keep up with all the developments by attending meetings. Don’t rely on your children or rumors to inform you. (Or entirely on this column, either!) If you can’t make meetings, read the minutes on the SAU 61 website. They are to be posted in draft form in a timely fashion. The minutes are a great resource, as the Recording Secretary, Kelly Tivnan, has been highly praised for the superb job she does recording them. Don’t have internet? Call the SAU 61 and find out how you can obtain copies. Middleton and Farmington will resume talks on the AREA Agreement beginning Thursday, Jan. 17 at Farmington High School at 6 p.m.

On Saturday, Feb. 2, residents are urged to attend the Deliberative Session on the school budget and warrants at 9 a.m. in the Town Hall. Keep in mind that Middleton still has to deal with replacing the aging buses. The board has extensively researched the possibilities and has come up with options to present to the voters. Please get all the facts and figures so you can make the right decisions. Ballot voting will be on March 12.

Town officials and the Budget Committee have also been hard at work on budgets. Last week, beginning at 8 a.m. on Jan. 8, one after the other department heads made their budget presentations to the Selectmen. The Selectmen found several items on the worksheets that could be cut, some quite dramatically. After adjustments and discussion, the proposed budgets will be reviewed by the Board for pro/con recommendations and given to the Budget Committee for their recommendations. So there’s still a lot of work to be done on the budgets before presenting them to residents. But did you notice how time flies? Before you know it, it’ll be time to vote. It’s important to get informed about the budget, the issues, and to vote.

Back to school issues, the Jan. 11 Valley View newsletter reported that guidance counselors will be meeting with students in their respective schools. The goal is for one meeting by April vacation, with a future goal of three meetings each year. Designed as brief chats, these opportunities will give students a chance to know the counselors as people they can contact and talk to at any time.

The Venture Crew continues to be active, attending an ISLC (Introduction to Leadership Skills Course) at Camp Bell, combined with lots of winter fun. There will be opportunities for sledding, skating and snowshoeing. Feb. 2 they will participate in a ‘Klondike’ sled race. For the community they have tentative plans to host a Snowball Dance on Feb. 23 to raise money for Special Olympics winter and summer programs. If you would like to help (decorate, bake, etc.), contact Sue Dooley at (603) 473-8919.

Last Saturday, we left Bomba the Jungle Boy still on the trail, facing mysterious death yet again after just having escaped from enemies in the Abandoned City. Gibo, his companion, is afraid they are pursued by the snake of the evil gods. All adventure–loving youngsters and the young-at-heart are invited to listen as the story continues at the Library on Saturday, Jan. 19 at 11 a.m.